Professing Holiness (B.T. Roberts re-examined)

Professing Holiness (B.T. Roberts re-examined)

“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” [Romans 10:9 – 10]

“If you would be holy you must live holiness.  … But when the false teachers tell you that this can take the place of a profession of holiness do not listen to them.” [B.T. Roberts]

1.         Notice:

            a.         It is with the MOUTH confession is made.  This is a VERBAL expression.

            b.         It is this verbal, audible, outward confession that one is saved.

            c.         The confession is “Jesus is Lord.”

                        1.)        Historically this is a rejection of the deity of Creaser and a proclamation of the deity of Jesus.

                        2.)        Historically it was also a rejection of any and all false means of salvation.

                        3.)        Jesus is THE ONLY way to be saved.

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. [18] As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. [19] For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” [John 17:17 – 19]

2.         Notice:

            a.         Jesus prayed that God the Father would “sanctify” them:

                        1.)        Sanctify: separate and clean…

                        2.)        Dedicated to God’s use…

                        3.)        Used by God in service…

            b.         Two instruments would be used:

                        1.)        The Bible (truth, Your word)

                        2.)        Being sent into the world (as witnesses).

“If Christ not only forgives you, but sanctifies you, then it is not enough ot say that you are forgiven.  That is not the whole truth.  An indefinite profession will lead to an indefinite experience.” [BTR]

“The bottom of your life is on a level with the top of your profession.” [Unknown]

3.         Idea:

            a.         If you enjoy it and you live it… why not speak it?

“Evangelism is one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread.” [African proverb]

“No one can long retain this great blessing without letting it be known that God bestows it upon him.” [BTR]

            b.         One key concept found in the Christ-centered life is that of evangelism… witnessing to what God has done for them.

4.         Caution:

            a.         Professions by themselves amount to nothing.

                        1.)        Some are fake… for whatever reasons.

                        2.)        Some are past… not current.

                        3.)        Some are weak… the power is gone but the show is still there.

[Ill. General Robert E. Lee kept McClellan at bay by pointing logs made to look like cannon toward the Union forces.]

                        4.)        Some are wishful thinking… they talk but the fruit is absent.

            b.         Profession must be genuine.

5.         Problems:

            a.         The appetites of this world rule over those who are not yet entirely sanctified.

                        1.)        Example: physical addictions (tobacco)

                        2.)        Old word “temperance” (Greek means “continence,” “self-restraint”)

            b.         “Some are wanting in self-denial.” [BTR]

                        1.)        Key idea in entire sanctification/holiness is “surrendered.”

                        2.)        Image of a car… Christ followers are enjoying the drive with Jesus.  Christ-centered are letting Jesus drive the car.

                        3.)        DAILY self-denial is the norm.

            c.         “Some are wanting in non-conformity to the world.” [BTR]

                        1.)        Worldly fashion vs “being to strict.”

                        2.)        Unwillingness to be separate.  (My thought on this is that it must start internally… e.g. if we are bitter critical people it doesn’t matter what we look like on the outside.)

            d.         “Some are wanting in humility.” [BTR]

                        1.)        Roberts noted that one can look “plain” but still be full of “pride and self-conceit.”

                        2.)        “They… seem to think that nothing is done right in which they do not participate.” [BTR]

                        3.)        Cure: be “swift to hear and slow to speak.”

            e.         “Others are wanting in love.” [BTR]

                        1.)        Correct doctrine but unable to “bear much.”

                        2.)        Fretful, little things chafe, annoy, and irritate. [BTR]

6.         What to do:

            a.         Search ourselves.

            b.         If you don’t have it… shut up.  (It doesn’t do anybody any good.)

“Holiness is our complete renewal in the image of God…” [BTR]

            c.         “[Holiness] is not merely victory over sin.” [BTR]

                        1.)        “It is deliverance from sinful tempers themselves.” [BTR]

                        2.)        Old man is cast out…

                        3.)        “NOT a calm, emotionless surrender of ourselves”… “there is a dying out of self.”

            d.         “The heart emptied of sin, is filled with the Spirit.” [BTR]